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ARGENTINA
ARGENTINA’s Head Coach, Daniel Hourcade has confirmed his senior squad for the November Europe Tour. The 30 players will face Scotland, Italy and France, on 8, 15 and 22 of that month.
Hourcade has brought in five new players who did not feature in the Rugby Championship: Matías Moroni, Santiago Cordero, Juan Cruz Guillemain, Santiago Iglesias Valdez and Guido Petti.
The national delegation departs for Scotland on Saturday, November 1st and will convene in Edinburgh in preparation for their first match at Murrayfield a week later.
"Scotland played with one team earlier this year in the US, and different line ups against Argentina and South Africa (in the Summer Tour). They have a new coach who took over mid-year, so for us it is a bit of a mystery to know which team will face us, said Los Pumas Coach.
A week later, the Pumas will face against Italy at Genoa Luigi Ferraris, where they have not played since 2005. Argentina beat Italy on that occasion 39-22. The prospect of m=laying the Azzurri is always eagerly anticipated as the team styles are similar, and both sides have drive with a powerful pack.
The final match of the tour is against Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Saturday, November 22 at 21:00pm CET. The Pumas have not played at the iconic stadium since their semi final loss to the Springboks at 2007 World Cup. The last match against France was a 39-22 loss in November 2012 at Lille.
Coach Hourcade summed up the tour with an understanding that since two of the three opponents are above them in the IRB World Rankings, the Pumas will need to stay grounded. Though conceding humility, Argentina built momentum over three months when they were last together in order to achieve the historic win over Australia to finish the Rugby Championship on a high. The team’s spirits are high, and the identity is coming together; with respect for the opponents, The Pumas must now push on from the home win and translate the momentum to the task ahead away from home.
PLAYER |
CLUB |
Horacio Agulla |
Bath |
OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Mariano Galarza, Bruno Postiglioni |
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COACH: DANIEL HOURCADE |
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AUSTRALIA
THE Australian Rugby Union have announced NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has been appointed Qantas Wallabies head coach on a three year contract, following Ewen McKenzie’s resignation after Australia’s 29-28 loss to New Zealand in Brisbane.
The appointment came as the Qantas Wallabies prepared to leave for the November Tests in Europe, with games against the Barbarians, Wales, France, Ireland and England.
The 33-man squad for the tour includes three changes to the group which recently assembled in Brisbane to prepare for the All Blacks, including the return of injured duo Matt Toomua and Ben McCalman.
The third change sees the inclusion of uncapped Rebels backrower Sean McMahon, who joins the group as one of five potential debutants, alongside prop Tetera Faulkner, centre Kyle Godwin and wingers Henry Speight and Tom English.
In addition to Michael Cheika’s appointment for the Spring Tour, Bill Pulver also announced there will be changes to the Wallabies’ off-field structure, with contracts for coaches Nick Scrivener and Jim McKay terminated. NSW Waratahs defence coach Nathan Grey has joined as part of a three-man coaching line-up for the Spring Tour, alongside Cheika and existing Forwards Coach Andrew Blades.
General Manager of Pathways & Performance, Ben Whitaker, has undertaken a senior management role.
PLAYER |
STATE |
CAPS |
Adam Ashley-Cooper |
NSW Waratahs |
100 |
OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Scott Fardy (knee) |
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COACHES: MICHAEL CHEIKA, Nathan Grey (defence), Andrew Blades (forwards) |
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ENGLAND
SEMESA ROKODUGUNI is among three uncapped players named in England’s 33-man squad for the 2014 QBE Internationals against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia. Chris Robshaw captains the side in the four-game series at Twickenham.
The group also features yet to be capped Saracens lock George Kruis and Northampton Saints flanker Calum Clark and meet up at Pennyhill Park on Sunday, October 26 to prepare for the opening clash with the All Blacks on November 8. Three remaining fixtures take place on consecutive Saturdays.
Centre Jonathan Joseph is included with Manu Tuilagi injured, and swells the number of in-form Bath representatives to seven. George Ford is among those from the West Country club as one of three options at fly half alongside Owen Farrell and Stephen Myler.
England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “The first six rounds of the Premiership and opening round of European action have given us plenty to think about as coaches with a lot of players putting their hand up for selection and we are excited by the options available to us.
"We have four quality sides coming to Twickenham for this QBE Internationals series and we are really looking forward to playing at home in front of our passionate supporters as we continue the build up to the World Cup in 12 months’ time.”
Having recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of the tour to New Zealand, young Exeter Chiefs wing Jack Nowell returns to the fold, while back-rowers James Haskell and Ben Morgan are also rewarded for fine domestic form.
Harlequins’ Robshaw has captained England in 27 of their last 30 Tests and Lancaster added: “Chris continues to lead from the front and with other players now stepping up into captaincy and senior roles at their clubs, we are building a team of leaders who can take England forward.
“There are a number of players unavailable for this series because of long term injury (listed below) but they are all on the road to recovery and as always, it gives the opportunity for others to come in and stake their claim.”
“We have included Jonathan [Joseph] as an injury replacement for Manu. It is obviously disappointing to lose Manu but JJ has been in great form and deserves this chance. Our medics will continue to work closely Leicester’s and ensure that Manu is supported in his rehabilitation from his injury.”
Following the end of the European Rugby weekends, Dave Ewers, Henry Slade and Thomas Waldrom join the squad as cover for Haskell, Burrell and Vunipola. Ben Foden, Matt Kvesic, Anthony Watson and Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens) also join the squad as cover for the players involved in European games.
Henry Thomas and Alex Waller have been added as cover for David Wilson and Joe Marler, who have calf and thigh injuries respectively, and will have limited training in the first week of camp, but both are expected to be fit by the weekend.
Tom Wood remained in Northampton with his wife pending the birth of their third child and joins the squad later the first week.
FRANCE
PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRÉ has named his 30-man squad for France’s Autumn Tests against Fiji, Australia and Argentina.
Les Bleus see six uncapped players added to the squad, including two debutants who qualify through the IRB 3-year residency rule; South African-born Castres scrum half Rory Kockott, and New Zealand born Samoan prop, Uini Atonio who represents La Rochelle in the Top 14, join Virgile Bruni (flanker), Xavier Chiocci (prop), Teddy Thomas (winger) and Charles Ollivon (No.8).
Clermont’s Thomas Domingo and Sébastien Vahaamahina, Racing’s Antonie Claassen and Maxime Machenaud, Montpellier’s Fulgence Ouedraogo, alongside Gaël Fickou and Florian Fritz of Toulouse are all clearly out of favour for the immense task ahead of Les Bleus, who since Saint-Andre took over in December 2011, have won only 11 of 29 Tests.
PLAYER |
CLUB |
FORWARDS |
--- |
OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Hugo Bonneval (knee), François Trinh-Duc (leg), Yannick Nyanga (groin), Romain Taofifenua (suspended), Brice Dulin |
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COACH: PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRÉ, Patrice Lagisquet, Yannick Bru |
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IRELAND
THE Ireland Coaching Team named a squad of 37 players for the forthcoming Guinness Series which features Tests against South Africa, Georgia and Australia.
The squad, captained by Paul O'Connell, features five uncapped players including Connacht's Darragh Leader and Nathan White, Ulster's Jared Payne, Munster's Dave Foley and Leinster's Dominic Ryan.
Ireland take on Heyneke Meyer's South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 8th November. The Springboks ended the All Blacks' unbeaten run of 22 games with their victory at Ellis Park in the final game of the Rugby Championship in early October.
On Sunday 16th November, Ireland play host to Georgia who have a plethora of players plying their trade at leading French Top 14 clubs.
The final game of the Guinness Series will take place on Saturday 22nd November with the return of the Wallabies who recorded a victory in Dublin last November. The games against South Africa and Australia are sell-outs while there remain opportunities to secure tickets for the game against Georgia.
PLAYER |
CLUB |
CAPS |
FORWARDS |
Munster
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2
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OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Dave Kearney, Luke Marshall, Fergus McFadden, Martin Moore, Jordi Murphy, Sean O'Brien, Donnacha Ryan, Mike Sherry, Dan Tuohy, Andrew Trimble, Damien Varley |
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COACHES: JOE SCHMIDT, Les Kiss (Asst), Simon Easterby (forwards), Greg Feek (scrum), Richie Murphy (kicking) |
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ITALY
FEDERAZIONE Italiana Rugby Head Coach Jacques Brunel convened thirty players in early October in Rome ahead of the autumn international window. The Cariparma Test Series brings the Azzurri up against Samoa in Ascoli (November 8), Argentina in Genoa (November 15) and South Africa in Padua (22 November), the first stage of a season that will culminate with Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.
Brunel appointed three uncapped players, Benetton Treviso winger, Simone Ragusi, and Zebre centre Kelly Haimona and No.8 Samuela Vunisa. Treviso flanker Simone Favaro and centre Luca Morisi both return to the squad having missed most of last season due to injury.
Treviso’s Francesco Minto and Alessandro Zanni, alongside Zebre’s Giulio Toniolatti return to the fold after being rested for Italy’s Summer Tour to the Pacific Islands.
The team will again be led by veteran No.8 Sergio Parisse of Stade Français, now boasting 105 alongside Toulon prop, Martin Castrogiovanni.
Following disciplinary issues during Round 2 of the European Challenge Cup when Zebre’s Dario Chistolini and Leonardo Sarto were stood down from the starting XV, Brunel dropped the players from the Italy squad, replacing them with Tommaso Benvenuti and Lorenzo Cittadini. It remains to be seen whether the two players will rejoin the squad after they face a Disciplinary Committee at the end of October.
PLAYER |
CLUB |
CAPS |
PROPS |
Zebre Rugby
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26
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OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Gonzalo Canale, Paul Derbyshire, Giulio Bisegni |
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COACH: JACQUES BRUNEL |
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NEW ZEALAND
THE All Blacks selectors Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox selected their squad for the four-Test MyRepublic Northern Tour against the USA, England, Scotland and Wales, again led by the All Blacks’ most capped player, long-time captain and openside flanker Richie McCaw, who will be making his 11th tour to Europe. The squad has a combined total of 1,249 Test caps experience and, as well as McCaw, features three of the other most capped All Blacks of all-time in their position: hooker Keven Mealamu, first five-eighth Daniel Carter and centre Conrad Smith.
The squad features the return of four recent All Blacks, including world rugby’s leading points scorer Dan Carter, who missed the All Blacks’ recent victorious Investec Rugby Championship campaign through injury. Loose forward Victor Vito also returns to the team after being out since the Steinlager Series in June with injury. Lock Luke Romano also returns to the national side after a long injury layoff.
Midfielder Sonny Bill Williams returns after making his rugby union comeback with Counties Manukau ITM Cup provincial side earlier this month after two seasons away from the game. Williams, who last played for the All Blacks in 2012, has inked deals with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs for the 2015-2016 seasons.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said it was decided to include Romano as a 34th player as the selectors felt, with a limited number of Tests next year before the Rugby World Cup, and given he had been out of the game for a while, it was important to bring him back into the group and up to speed with the All Blacks strategies and skillsets.
Another feature is the inclusion of halfback Augustine Pulu, who has been named in his first official All Blacks squad, after being called into the All Blacks as an injury replacement for the last Bledisloe Cup Test.
Looking at the tour ahead, Hansen said the squad was looking forward to kicking off the MyRepublic Northern Tour with the historic Test match against the USA Eagles.
“It’s going to be an exciting week in Chicago as we build up for the match at Soldier Field. It’s somewhere different for the team which will be stimulating, the match is sold out, which is fantastic, and we are looking forward to showing American rugby fans what the All Blacks are all about.
“The England Test match the following week is going to be massive. We have already played them three times this year and we are their first opponent at home in what will be a big Series for them and they will be looking to put a stake in the ground, as will we.
“Scotland and Wales will then offer their own unique challenges in the second half of the Tour.”
PLAYER |
PROVINCE |
CAPS |
HOOKERS |
Wellington
|
24
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OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Ma’a Nonu, Tony Woodcock |
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COACHES: STEVE HANSEN, Ian Foster (Asst), Mike Cron (Forwards), Mick Byrne (Skills) |
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SCOTLAND
HEAD coach Vern Cotter originally named Edinburgh Rugby lock Grant Gilchrist as captain of a 33-man Scotland squad selected for the 2014 viagogo Autumn Tests to face the Pumas and All Blacks at Murrayfield, and finally Tonga in Kilmarnock.
But a fractured forearm during Edinburgh Rugby’s European Challenge Cup win against Lyon has taken Gilchrist out of the equation, replaced with Saracens' 56-times capped second-row, Jim Hamilton. The new captain will be named in due course.
Scotland head coach, Vern Cotter, said: "The most important thing for us, other than showing improvements in key areas, is developing an attack that will give us opportunities to score tries or earn points through teams being forced to infringe.
"We want to develop, and impose, our style, will, and strategy on our opposition. We want to play well, and enjoy playing in front of our home crowd.”
The squad is made up of 5 Edinburgh Rugby clubmen, and a further 17 players from Glasgow Warriors, and 10 from clubs outside Scotland.
Among the group is just one uncapped player, 21-year-old outside-centre, Mark Bennett, who scored twice in Glasgow Warriors' five-try win over Bath in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
A product of St Joseph's Academy in Kilmarnock, Cumnock RFC and Ayr RFC, Bennett was selected, but not capped, in last season's viagogo Autumn Tests and missed Scotland's summer tour because of commitments to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Assessing the nation's opponents this autumn, Cotter added: "Argentina will offer us a very stern test, especially scrum time. They have good variety and move the ball well from nine, through the middle of the paddock and out the back.
"The All Blacks have just won the Rugby Championship and are the best team in the world, so we'll have to be on our toes.
"They have more variety in their kicking game so covering space in the back field will be important.
"Defensively, we're going to get tested, which is good because we want to show that our defence has improved.
"Tonga will be the final big test psychologically, having come through two big games, to play away from BT Murrayfield, and needing to put in a good performance at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock.
"It's essential that we show maturity, mental strength and adaptability throughout the series.
"We have a good group, but the most important thing is that we play for each other, we play for the shirt, and we enjoy what we do.”
In addition to the 33-man squad, Cotter has also invited two uncapped props to train with the national team: 18-year-old BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy player, Zander Fagerson and Edinburgh Rugby’s South African-born Allan Dell who qualifies for Scotland through his grandmother, Joan Carmichael, who was born in Paisley and brought up in Edinburgh.
SOUTH AFRICA
FIVE newcomers and two returnees have been added to the Springboks’ Castle Lager Rugby Championship squad as the national selectors opted for continuity and rewarding form in naming a 36-man squad.
Twenty-nine of the 36 players named for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour were part of the Rugby Championship squad. They will be joined by the uncapped quintet of Robbie Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Kriel and Seabelo Senatla, while Coenie Oosthuizen and Johan Goosen have been recalled to the squad for the tour of four Tests against Ireland, England, Italy and Wales.
“It’s wonderful to have this kind of continuity in selection, while the five uncapped players in the squad have all been rewarded for superb form throughout the season,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Julian has been impressive all season and if it wasn’t for injuries, he might have been a Springbok already,” said Meyer.
“Next to Julian, Robbie was part of a very dominant Lions scrum throughout the season and this is also a reward for his consistently good performances, while he is also very secure when it comes to throwing into the line-outs.
“Both Nizaam and Jaco have been great in 2014, building on their fine Vodacom Super Rugby form in the Absa Currie Cup where they excelled in the two teams that reached the final. Nizaam is a versatile loose forward who can play any position in the back row and has proven his worth at flank and No 8 this season. Jaco, who is really very fast for a loose forward and scored the most tries in the Absa Currie Cup this season, is more of a traditional openside flank, a position for which we need cover following Francois Louw’s injury.
“This tour will be a great challenge for both these players to see what they can bring to the table, especially as we only have eight Tests left before the Rugby World Cup next year and we have to ascertain what depth we have at our disposal.
“Seabelo’s speed is well-known to anyone who’s seen him play for the Blitzboks this year and he is now the third player from the Springbok Sevens set-up to be called-up to the Springboks, which is a great compliment to their structures. He’s also made the most of his opportunities in the Absa Currie Cup and we’d like to see if he can take another step up in the toughest circumstances.”
None of the overseas-based players will be available for the final match of the tour, against Wales in Cardiff on 29 November, as it falls outside the international Test window. Ruan Pienaar’s selection in the squad is pending a fitness Test in Dublin, where he will join the squad. Willem Alberts could come into consideration at a later stage during the tour.
PLAYER |
CLUB |
CAPS |
Marcell Coetzee |
Sharks |
22 |
OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Schalk Brits, Fourie du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies, Marcel van der Merwe, Flip van der Merwe, Callie Visagie |
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COACH: HEYNEKE MEYER |
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WALES
WALES Head Coach Warren Gatland named an experienced 34-man squad for the Dove Men Series that features just one uncapped player, with 95 times capped Lions prop, Adam Jones a glaring omission, and also Gloucester Rugby’s James Hook.
Ospreys prop Nicky Smith, 20, is called into the senior squad for the first time and features alongside 12 players who return to International duty after missing the summer tour to South Africa.
Gatland's side take on Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa on consecutive weekends in November as the countdown begins to next year's Rugby World Cup.
In the front-row, former Wales U20 prop Smith, who has started all seven of the Ospreys' encounters this season, joins the experienced Gethin Jenkins and Paul James. Richard Hibbard and Emyr Phillips, who both missed the two-Tests against the Springboks in June return to the squad alongside Scott Baldwin. Aaron Jarvis and Scarlets duo Samson Lee and Rhodri Jones make up the front-row contingent.
Bradley Davies returns from injury to be named along with British and Irish Lions duo Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris as well as Scarlets' Jake Ball.
Captain Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and James King all return from injury and join Dan Lydiate, Taulupe Faletau and Dan Baker in the back-row.
Mike Phillips, Rhys Webb and Rhodri Williams are named as the scrum-halves with Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland as the fly-halves.
Five further British and Irish Lions are named in the backs, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Alex Cuthbert, George North and Leigh Halfpenny. They are joined by Scarlets duo Scott and Liam Williams, Cory Allen and Dragons pair Hallam Amos and Tom Prydie.
"We are really happy with the squad, there is a lot of experience that has come back in, 12 players who were injured in the summer and didn't tour South Africa, they are back and fit and we have a couple of exciting youngsters as well,” said Gatland.
"Nicky Smith has been playing exceptionally well for the Ospreys and we have been impressed with him and it's a great opportunity.
"When you look through the squad there is a huge amount of experience. We've taken a lot of things into account and made some tough decisions.
"We've had to weigh up a balance of players who play in Wales and outside, due to how often they can train and are with us but we are really happy with the squad.
"We are looking to the future and the next twelve months ahead with this squad but it doesn't close the door for anyone not selected.”
PLAYER |
CLUB |
FORWARDS |
Cardiff Blues
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OMITTED DUE TO INJURY: Ken Owens (neck), Gareth Davies (knee) |
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COACHES: WARREN GATLAND, Shaun Edwards (defence), Rob Howley (backs), Robyn McBride (forwards), Neil Jenkins (skills) |
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